Signal lamp



April 26, 1966 s. M. DOVER 3,248,531

SIGNAL LAMP Original Filed Feb. 15, 1962 INVENTOR. SAMUEL M. Doven BY C y United States Patent O 3,248,531 SIGNAL LAMP Samuel M. Dover, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Doray Lamp Co., Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Original application Feb. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 173,565. Divided and this application Aug. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 299,254

2 Claims. (Cl. 240 8.3)

This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 173,565, tiled February l5, 1962, now Patent No. 3,100,085.

This invention relates in general to lamps, and, more particularly, to signal lamps of the type used on motor vehicles.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a signal lamp for a motor vehicle that is reasonably well sealed against the entrance of moisture', dust, and Volatile fumes to the interior of the lamp, but at the same time is rugged, durable, and easily assembled and disassembled when it is desired to service the lamp. Such lamp may be a combined tail and stop lamp.

It is a further object of the present invention to pro` vide a signal lamp of the type stated in which the lighting means within the lamp housing is a conventional bulb and socket removably secured together by a conventional bayonet connection and wherein the socket has a rubber spring that not only holds the bulb in place in the socket but also closes an opening in the housing through which lead wires from the socket project, thereby providing a reasonably effective seal where the lead wires pass through the housing.

The attainment of the above and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming part thereof.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of a signal lamp constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are partial sectional views taken along lines 2 2 and 3 3 respectively of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5 5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along line 6 6 of FIG. 5.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodime-nt of the present invention, A designates a ytail and `stop lamp for a motor vehicle and comprises a cupshaped housing 1 molded of rubber-like material 4such as natural rufbber, synthetic resins, or other suitable elastomers having rubber-like properties. 'The housing 1 is resilient and includes a circular back wall 3 and a conical side wall 5 4that terminates in rim section 7, generally fU-shaped in cross section, and being at the open end 9 of the housing 1.

Somewhat centrally thereof, the back wall 3 is formed with an opening 11, and disposed against and covering substantially `the entire inside surface of the back wall 3 is a circular metallic mounting plate 13- having a hole overlying the opening 11. Mounted at one end ony the plate 13 and centrally thereof is an electric lighting means, generally designated at 17, that includes a lamp socket 19 open at its opposite ends. The lamp socket lis generally perpendicular to the plate y13 and the end of the lamp socket that is adjacent to the mounting plate 13 has a ange l21 that projects through the hole 15 and is turned-back to crimp the lamp socket ICC 19 onto the mounting plate 13. Removably mounted in the other end of the lamp socket 19 is an incandescent bulb 23 having stop and tail light filaments 25, 27, respectively. The blulb base 29 has radially outwardly extending lugs 311, 33 that tit lrespectively within bayonet slots 35, 37 that are inthe lamp socket 19.

The bulb base 29 has electrical contacts 39, 41 that engage electrical lcontacts 43, 45 on a terminal disk 47 Within the lamp socket 19. The terminal disk 47 is fabricated of a dielectric material and has diametrally opposed notches 49, 51 which cooperate with inwardly struck ribs 53, l'55 on the lamp socket 19 to prevent rotation of the terminal disk 47 within the Ilamp socket 19. Also fwithin the lamp socket 19 is a rubber spring 517 that abuts the terminal disk 47 biasing it into engagement with the bulb base29 and maintaining iirm engagement of the contacts 39, 41, 43, 45. The force of the spring 57 also biases the `lugs 3-1, 33 into the ends of the bayonet slots 3-5, 37, thereby to retain the bulb 23 within the lalmp socket 19. The spring 57 has a diametrally reduced end or plug-forming portion 59 that projects outwardly of the lamp socket 19 through the hole 15 and into the opening 11, closing same. Insulated wires 61, 63 are attached to the contacts 43, 45 and extend through a clearance space 65 in the spring 57 and also through the spring end 59 for connection 1throu-gh appropriate tail and stop light switches on the vehicle upon which the lamp A is mounted.

The rubber of the spring end 59 surrounds and snugly grips the insulated wires 61, 63, and, similarly, the spring end 59 ts iirmly within the housing opening 11. Consequently, the spring end 59 provides a reasonably effective seal against dirt, fumes and the like on the housing where the insulated wires 61, 63 project therethrough.

Bolts 67, 67 project through the mounting plate 13 and back wall 3 and through a frame member or other suitable portion 69 of the vehicle upon which the lamp A is mounted. Suitable nut and lock washer assemblies 71, '71 are threaded onto the bolts 67, 67 for securely retaining the lamp on the vehicle portion 69. The lighting means 17 is thus grounded to the vehicle through the plate 13 and bolts 67, 67. Furthermore, the vehicle portion 69 has a suitable clearance hole 73 through which the insulated wires 61, 63 project.

The rim section 7 of the housing 1 is formed with a circumferentially extending groove for snugly but removably receiving a companion shaped, radially outwardly extending peripheral flange 77 of a cup-shaped lens 79. The intert lbetween the ange 77 and groove 75 provides a reasonably effective seal at the front of the housing against the entrance of dirt, volatile fumes, and the like. The lens 79 is conventionally formed of transparent plastic and preferably has concentric projections 81 of a known shape for reflecting light from the headlights of a vehicle to the rear of the vehicle upon which the lamp A is mounted. The lens 79 also has a central or light concentrating Lbulls-eye portion 83. The bulb 23 is located with respect to the bulls-eye portion 53 so that light from the stop light iilament 25 is concentrated into a beam of high intensity light to the rear of the vehicle with that beam of light having only a slight spread. Furthermore, the lens 79 may be entirely red colored, or, as in the present embodiment, may have a colorless section 85 for illuminating a rear license plate on the vehicle. In such case, light from the filament 27 will pass through the colorless section 85 for that purpose.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, the same being merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. What is considered new and sought to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A signal lamp comprising a housing having a back wall with an opening therethrough, a lamp sock-et ground* ing member mounted on the back wall and a lamp socket mounted on the member, said member having means for receiving lamp mounting elements that project through the back Wall for grounding the lamp socket through the member and elements, said lamp socket having one end over the opening, an electric lamp 'within the socket and projecting from the other end thereof, lugs on the bulb projecting into bayonet slots on the socket, said bulb having electric contact means at its end within the socket, a terminal disk Within the socket and having electrical contact means in engagement with the contact means of the bulb, and a rubber-like spring within the socket and against the terminal disk for biasing the bulb lugs in removable but retentive positions against the ends of the slots, said rubber-like spring extending through said one end f the socket and said member and closing said back wall opening, and insulated electric conductor means secured to the contact means of the disk and extending through the rubber-like spring and said back wall opening, the part of the rubber-like spring that is adjacent to the terminal disk having a clearance space for loose fitting reception of the conductor means and the part of the spring that closes the back wall opening surrounding and gripping the conductor means, thereby to form substantially a seal at said back wall opening.

2. A substantially sealed signal lamp comprising a unitary rubber like housing having a back wall and an integral enveloping forwardly extending side wall that detines an opening into the housing opposite to said back wall, said sidewall having an annular groove adjacent to said opening, a cup-shaped lens removably mounted across said opening by the intert between the peripheral part of the lens and the groove and ywhich intert forms a seal across said opening, said lens extending forwardly from said opening and having a front wall that has concentric projections for transmitting and reflecting light in a predetermined pattern, a socket holding and grounding plate against and substantially entriely covering the back wall to constitute a reinforcement therefor, a light bulb socket secured at one end to the plate centrally thereof and in electrical current carrying connection therewith and extending axially forwardly from the plate toward said housing opening, a light bulb mounted in the other end of said socket and lying at least in part forwardly of said opening, said plate having holes which are aligned with holes in the back wall for receiving lamp mounting screws that project through the back wall holes for securing the plate to the back wall and for grounding the lamp socket through the plate, said back wall furthermore having an opening, the lamp socket having said one end thereof over the opening, lugs on the light bulb projecting into bayonet slots on the socket, said bulb having electric contact means at its end within the socket, a terminal disk within the socket and having contact means in engagement with the contact means of the bulb, a rubber like spring within the socket and against the terminal disk for biasing the bulb lugs in removable but rctentive positions against the ends of the slots, said rubber like spring extending through said one end of the socket and said plate and closing said back wall opening, and insulated electric conductor means secured to the contact means of the disk and extending through the rubber like spring and said back wall opening, the part of the spring that closes the back Wall opening surrounding and gripping the conductor means, thereby to form substantially a seal at said back wall opening.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,613,841 1/1927 Monson 24U- 8.3 2,195,189 3/1940 Sauer 24U-8.3 X 2,208,154 7/1940 Daehler 24U-8.3 X 2,219,940 10/ 1940 Ritz-Weller 24U-8.2 X 2,705,308 3/1955 Howard 339-93 X 2,757,275 7/1956 Lehr 24U-8.3 2,806,940 9/1957 Worden 24U-8.2 X 2,830,171 4/1958 Buck 240-90 2,941,182 6/1960 Heller 339-188 X 3,017,501 1/1962 Tantlinger 240-8.2

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SIGNAL LAMP COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING A BACK WALL WITH AN OPENING THERETHROUGH, A LAMP SOCKET GROUNDING MEMBER MOUNTED ON THE BACK WALL AND A LAMP SOCKET MOUNTED ON THE MEMBER, SAID MEMBER HAVING MEANS FOR RECEIVING LAMP MOUNTING ELEMENTS THAT PROJECT THROUGH THE BACK WALL FOR GROUNDING THE LAMP SOCKET THROUGH THE MEMBER AND ELEMENTS, SAID LAMP SOCKET HAVING ONE END OVER THE OPENING, AN ELECTRIC LAMP WITHIN THE SOCKET AND PROJECTING FROM THE OTHER END THEREOF, LUGS ON THE BULB PROJECTING INTO BAYONET SLOTS ON THE SOCKET, SAID BULB HAVING ELECTRIC CONTACT MEANS AT ITS END WITHIN THE SOCKET, A TERMINAL DISK WITHIN THE SOCKET AND HAVING ELECTRICAL CONTACT MEANS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CONTACT MEANS OF THE BULB, AND A RUBBER-LIKE SPRING WITHIN THE SOCKET AND AGAINST THE TERMINAL DISK FOR BIASING THE BULB LUGS IN REMOVABLE BUT RETENTIVE POSITIONS AGAINST THE ENDS OF THE SLOTS, SAID RUBBER-LIKE SPRING EXTENDING THROUGH SAID ONE END OF THE SOCKET AND SAID MEMBER AND CLOSING SAID BACK WALL OPENING, AND INSULATED ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR MEANS SECURED TO THE CONTACT MEANS OF THE DISK AND EXTENDING THROUGH THE RUBBER-LIKE SPRING AND SAID BACK WALL OPENING, THE PART OF THE RUBBER-LIKE SPRING THAT IS ADJACENT TO THE TERMINAL DISK HAVING A CLEARANCE SPACE FOR LOOSE FITTING RECEPTION OF THE CONDUCTOR MEANS AND THE PART OF THE SPRING THAT CLOSES THE BACK WALL OPENING SURROUNDING AND GRIPPING THE CONDUCTOR MEANS, THEREBY TO FORM SUBSTANTIALLY A SEAL AT SAID BACK WALL OPENING. 